Many of the students who go on a summer work program in the USA ask themselves: "Why do Americans have Christmas stores in the summer, and why do they shop there?" The truth is that Americans start preparing for the holiday as early as August.
Through their sunglasses, in the hottest heat, they keep an eye on the shop windows, looking for the newest and most original decorations for their houses and Christmas trees.
But the real preparations begin six weeks before Christmas. That's when the streets are taken over by the Christmas spirit of the Santas standing at the door of every house. Americans call him Santa Claus. This American Father Christmas was inspired by Saint Nicholas, the protector of children. In the 19th century, an American cartoonist was the first to depict him with a big belly, a white beard and red clothes. Since then, this has been the typical, traditional image of beloved Santa Claus. Newspapers report that 60% of American children aged nine to ten still believe he exists!
In these days, everyone gets very busy. People hurry along the streets, going from store to store with shopping lists, looking for the most original Christmas decorations for the home and Christmas cookies.
Children listen to street musicians and admire the decorated Christmas trees, the little angels "flying" over the streets and the countless colorful garlands. Near the Mexican border, people decorate their gardens with candles placed in brown paper bags half-filled with sand. In the Southwest, people don't plan a heavy Christmas meal, because they go surfing in the afternoon. And what about the Christmas tree there? "We just put red ribbons on the palm trees!" In the Northeast it's cold. Rosy-cheeked New Yorkers go to special farms to cut down their own Christmas tree. Some decorate it with popcorn garlands, others with ornaments made of wood and silk. In their gardens, Americans create entire scenes where the main character is Santa Claus driving his reindeer sleigh.
On Christmas Eve, Protestant churches hold a service and Catholics a midnight Mass. They put on special Christmas plays: children act out scenes related to the birth of Jesus. Real animals take part in them, and sometimes they manage to escape... Santa Claus always arrives on Christmas Eve. He comes during the night and fills long, colorful stockings with presents.
A typical custom for American children is that on Christmas Eve they leave out a glass of warm milk and a plate full of Christmas cinnamon cookies, which Santa Claus snacks on and drinks. When the children see their Christmas presents in the morning, they also check whether the glass of milk is empty and whether there are fewer cookies.